2. Other structures for ecclesial co-operation

    As well as the various Commissions, the USG has counted and still counts on other forms of ecclesial co-operation.

    In the first place, I must mention the Council of 16, created to further relations with the Congregation for Religious through the study and discussion of themes important to the consecrated life. It is composed of eight Superiors General from the USG and eight from the UISG. It meets periodically with CIVCSVA. At first the Council held monthly meetings (8 or 9 in a year). They were short: an hour and a half. Later, the meetings were changed to twice a year, but of longer duration: half a day. At present three half-day meetings are held, at the end of January, May and November.

    The Council of 16 was set up in 1968, on the basis of the suggestion in the Motu Proprio Ecclesiae Sanctae "Curandum est ut Unio Superiorum Generalium et Unio Superiorissarum Generalium per quondam Consilium apud Sacram Congregationem de Religiosis constitutum audiri et consultari possint" (n. 42). Cardinal Antoniutti, OFM was then Prefect of the Congregation for Religious and Fr. Pedro Arrupe, SJ, President of the USG.

    The role of the Council of 16 was determined right at the beginning. Amongst other things, the document that created the Council (22 June 1968) states that:

    - the Council is a consultative and not a decision-making body

    - it can present proposals and express desires to the Congregation

    - the Congregation will consult it on serious problems relating to religious life in the world

    - its role is to advise, suggest and assist the Congregation for Religious in its activities

    - the USG and the UISG will inform the Council of 16 of problems to be dealt with at meetings with the Congregation and will delegate members of the Council to discuss such problems during those meetings

    - the President of the Council is to be elected by its members (the first was Fr. Constantino Koser, General of the Franciscans and Vice-President of the USG. The Vice President was Br. Rosario Arano and the Secretary, Br. Charles Henry, Superior General of the Brothers of the Christian Schools)

    - the Council will meet at least once or twice a year. In any case, the USG and the UISG can request extraordinary meetings, as can the Congregation for Religious.

    - in the absence of a Councilor, the USG or the UISG may choose a substitute.

    The Council of 16 has been, more or less successfully, a means of dialog, but it has not always been as efficient as might be desired, due mainly to the attitude of the Congregation for Religious. Since January 1996 the Minutes of the Council of 16 have not been sent either to the Superiors General or to the Conferences for Religious.

    The Council of 18 was established in 1973 with aims similar to those of the Council of 16, but in relation to the Congregation for the Evangelization of the Peoples, and in regard to the problems and challenges in the area of missions. This Council is composed of nine men and nine women Superiors General, elected respectively by the USG and the UISG from the Superiors General of Institutes that are exclusively missionary in nature or which have missionary commitments. The Council of 18 was suspended between 1984 and 1985. Today this Council has been given particular energy and practical application, thanks to H.E. Mgr. Marcello Zago, OMI, Secretary of the CEP.

    Lastly, four Superiors General are members of the Plenary Body of CIVCSVA and four others are part of the Plenary Body of the Congregation for the Evangelization of the Peoples. Although they are not elected by the USG, but appointed by the Holy Father, they do in a way represent us. In fact, when they finish their term of office as Superiors General they automatically cease to be members of the Plenary Body.

    The USG played an active part in preparing the various documents of the Holy See on the consecrated life: Ecclesiae Sanctae (1966), Renovationis Causam (1969), Evangelica Testificatio (1971), Mutuae Relationes (1978, Redemptoris donum (1983), and, to a lesser extent, Vita fraterna in comunità (1994)

    There was also significant collaboration in preparing those parts of the new Code of Canon Law that relate to the consecrated life.

    Another important point was the preparation and progress of the Synods for Bishops. During the preparations the USG was invited to put forward its observations in the Consultative Documents. In several cases, these observations were more numerous than those of the Bishops’ Conferences and the Permanent Secretariat of the Synod judged them to be useful. Our presence at the Synods themselves consisted of ten delegates elected by the USG and a number of "observers" appointed by the Holy See.

    Until 1990, the USG Executive Council took part from time to time in round table sessions with the Holy Father. First with Paul VI and then with the present Supreme Pontiff. These meetings were always marked by cordiality and frankness. In particular, during the Holy Year 1983, there was a series of round tables and working lunches with the Holy Father, at which a number of themes were systematically discussed. Since 1990 it has not been possible to resume that direct contact, in spite of requests made to the Vatican Curia.

    Publications by the Councils of 16 and 18, and of the General and Bi-annual Assemblies were regularly sent not only to the Superiors General, but also to all the National Conferences for Religious. Distribution of these documents is now undergoing reconsideration.